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Quotes

Politics, n. A strife of interests masquerading as a contest of principles. The conduct of public affairs for private advantage.

—Ambrose Bierce, 1906

I am no courtesan, nor moderator, nor tribune, nor defender of the people: I am myself the people.

—Maximilien Robespierre, 1792

An appeal to the reason of the people has never been known to fail in the long run.

—James Russell Lowell, c. 1865

He may be a patriot for Austria, but the question is whether he is a patriot for me.

—Emperor Francis Joseph, c. 1850

All the ills of democracy can be cured by more democracy.

—Al Smith, 1933

You have all the characteristics of a popular politician: a horrible voice, bad breeding, and a vulgar manner.

—Aristophanes, c. 424 BC

The first requirement of a statesman is that he be dull.

—Dean Acheson, 1970

I am invariably of the politics of the people at whose table I sit, or beneath whose roof I sleep.

—George Borrow, 1843

Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.

—Lord Acton, 1887

Let him who desires peace prepare for war.

—Vegetius, c. 385

A real leader is somebody who can help us overcome the limitations of our own individual laziness and selfishness and weakness and fear and get us to do better, harder things than we can get ourselves to do on our own.

—David Foster Wallace, 2000

Envy is the basis of democracy.

—Bertrand Russell, 1930

Every communist must grasp the truth: “Political power grows out of the barrel of a gun.”

—Mao Zedong, 1938